Flagler College listed as one of 'most affordable'

For the seventh consecutive year, Flagler College has been listed as one of the nation's most affordable colleges, according to America's Best College Buys.

It's also the only private college in Florida to be so listed, said Laurin Griffith, Flagler's director of public information.

The top 100 best buys are selected from a survey of guidance counselors at 1,026 accredited colleges and universities that offer undergraduate degree programs as well as facilities for both room and board, Griffith said.

Flagler President William T. Abare Jr. said he is delighted about the news.

"Our listing in this publication is just as significant as our ranking in U.S. News & World Report," he said, "because the listing reflects the quality of our students as well as the efficiency of our operations."

In mid-September, Flagler was ranked 12th among southern comprehensive colleges in the U.S. News and World Report's national ranking of public and private colleges.

This was the ninth consecutive year Flagler made the top tier of the Southern Region. Last year, the college ranked 15th.

America's Best College Buys is published by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., an independent research and consulting organization specializing in the recruitment and retention of students for institutions of higher education.

Each year, the organization identifies the 100 American colleges and universities that provide students the highest education at the lowest cost.

According to a news release from the organization, "No college or university paid to be included in this report. Institutions are included solely on the basis of merit."

Survey results showed a national average cost of attendance of $19,430. This figure is based on the regular cost at a private institution and the out-of-state cost at a public institution for 2002-2003, Griffith said.

Flagler's tuition, room and board is $10,990 for the nearly 1,900 students who attend the school.

Other Florida colleges included in the top 100 were Florida International University, Florida State University, the University of Florida and the University of North Florida.